Team

Seth Myers

President

Seth Myers brings over 37 years of experience in the emergency air medical industry. Mr. Myers joined Air Evac Lifeteam in January 2003. Prior to joining the executive team at Air Evac Lifeteam, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Med Serve International and Senior Associate for Fitch & Associates. He began his air medical career in the 1970’s as an active duty Army Nurse Officer and then flight nurse for ShandsCair at the University of Florida where he later served as program director. He served on the board of the Association of Air Medical Services from 1998-2003 and has also completed the Certified Medical Transport Leader (CMTE) program. Mr. Myers received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Luther College and his MBA from Jacksonville University.

Daniel Sweeza

Vice President of Operations

Mr. Sweeza brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to his role at Air Evac EMS, Inc. Before joining Air Evac in 1994 as a flight paramedic, he served as supervisor for a hospital-based ambulance service. Mr. Sweeza has more than 20 years of combined management and air medical experience. While at Air Evac, he has worked as a flight paramedic, Base Manager, Area Manager, Corporate Paramedic Manager, Director of Paramedics, Director of Base Operations and his current role of Vice President of Operations, which he has held for more than eight years. Mr. Sweeza is a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix. He is a Certified Medical Transport Executive and an FAA-certified private pilot.

Thomas Cook

Vice President & General Counsel

Thomas Cook has been a corporate attorney for more than 25 years. Prior to joining Air Evac Lifeteam in July 2006, Mr. Cook was General Counsel for a St. Louis publicly traded company and a partner in a large St. Louis corporate law firm. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan., as well as a MBA and JD degree.

J. Heffernan

Director of Safety

Mr. Heffernan is a retired U.S. Marine, serving in infantry and armor tours in Vietnam before becoming a Marine aviator. From 1979-1983, he served with HMX 1 as a presidential aircraft commander and White House liaison officer. He then entered the world of air medicine and worked for 17 years at CJ Systems Aviation Group. While at CJ, Mr. Heffernan served as a line captain, site manager, director of safety and vice president of operations. He served as the Director of Safety for HAI and the Vice President of Aviation and Product Safety at Sikorsky. Mr. Heffernan joined Air Evac Lifeteam in January 2015.

Tony Bonham

Senior Director of Flight Operations

Mr. Bonham first became interested in aviation while in high school, later earning his Bachelor of Science in Aviation and a MBA. In 1987, Mr. Bonham started a successful helicopter flight school in Jonesboro, Ark., and also was involved in agricultural flying operations and helicopter sales. An FAA-designated Pilot Examiner since 1989, Mr. Bonham first flew HAA for Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and was one of the company instructors, a position he held for three years. From 1992-1999, he flew for the Memphis Medical Center Air Ambulance Service, Inc., and served as an instructor. Mr. Bonham started flying a Lear Jet for corporate and EMS purposes in 2000 and in 2001 he joined Air Evac Lifeteam.

Kelly Cox, MD, FACEP

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Cox graduated from New York Medical College in 1999. While completing his emergency medicine training, he served as chief resident in Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Ill. During that time he also completed research involving the utilization of ultrasound for airway assessment. He is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. In addition to his duties with Air Evac EMS, Inc., Dr. Cox has served as the Medical Director for the numerous Emergency Medical Services ground agencies. His special interests include airway management, emergency medical services/prehospital care, simulator educator, aeromedicine, critical care medicine and EMS research.

Dennis Cleaves

Senior Director of Maintenance

Mr. Cleaves is no stranger to the aviation industry, having spent 34 years working in helicopter maintenance. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he began his aviation career in the United States Marine Corps, where he was CH46 crew chief from 1982 to 1986. After his military career, Mr. Cleaves worked as a commercial helicopter mechanic for both EMS and law enforcement agencies. He then took a position with American Eurocopter working as a field rep., field service manager and later Director of Technical Support Department. Before coming to Air Evac EMS, Inc. in 2008, he served as Director of Maintenance for Med-Trans Corporation.

Chris Stanze

Director of Human Resources

Ms. Stanze has more than 17 years of Human Resource experience, predominantly in the health care industry, but also in manufacturing and financial organizations. She is experienced in an array of human resource functions including: strategic planning, performance management, succession planning, organizational development, training, staffing, benefits administration, and employee and labor relations. Before joining Air Evac, Ms. Stanze served as the Regional Director of HR for Lutheran Senior Services and Director of HR for Ascension Health. She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Human Resources Management Association (HRMA). She graduated from St. Louis University with a Bachelor’s in Organizational Development.

Joe Grygiel

Senior Director of Base Operations

Mr. Grygiel has been employed in the healthcare industry for 19 years. Starting with Air Evac Lifeteam in July of 2004 as a flight paramedic. Mr. Grygiel has also held the role of Area Manager and Regional Director of Base Operations. Prior to joining Air Evac Lifeteam, Mr. Grygiel worked at North Jefferson County Ambulance District as a paramedic and district administrator. He is a licensed paramedic, holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a MBA from Bethel University. Mr. Grygiel has also completed the Certified Medical Transport Leader (CMTE) program.